1 Corinthians 10:10, Neither murmur Ye

1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

The Israelites in the wilderness were constantly murmuring, dissatisfied with their present state, grumbling and complaining. Their murmurings were against God. For He brought them out of Egypt by reason of their bondage and showed them the way to the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey. The murmuring of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron is highlighted here – Numbers 16:1-3 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

What was their complaint? Numbers 16:12-14 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

God instructed the separation from these – Numbers 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

God’s judgment came – Numbers 16:32-35 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Hendricksen concludes well, “Without threathening the Corinthians, Paul teaches them lessons from sacred history to instill within them a respect for spiritual leaders.” Amen.